Zebra and Xplore Technologies corporation announced that their boards of directors have approved a definitive agreement in which Zebra will acquire Xplore.

Here are 3 things you need to know about the acquisition:

1.  Diverse Portfolio - Xplore has established a leading position as an innovative developer of the ultra- rugged tablets, laptops and a range of performance matched accessories. They are designed to withstand the demanding conditions across diverse end markets in oil & gas, manufacturing, military/ government, healthcare, public safety, transportation & logistics, and retail verticals. This is going to give Zebra a more diverse portfolio in rugged mobility.
2. Leader in Data Capturing - With Zebra continuing to invest in their Enterprise Tablet category, this acquisition further solidifies Zebra’s position as the world leader in Enterprise Mobility.
3. In-Process - Business is as usual for Zebra and Xplore until the acquisition is complete in Q3 2018.

As Zebra continues to grow, Barcodes Inc will still be your number one source to any data capturing mobility products and resource. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our barcode experts and we will be happy to help!

There are four big reasons why leading carriers are upgrading their networks to LTE and why you should to- Faster speeds, wider coverage, greater compability, and better reliability. Already, Verizon has started diminishing its 2G/3G service and will begin to decommission its legacy network on Jan 1, 2020. Other carriers are expected to follow.

Investigate why companies are upgrading to LTE, analyze why migrating sooner pays, and explore the strategies that can help ease the transition.

Find out what all this means for you. Watch the video below to find out!

 See why it’s better     Analyze how it fits  Map out strategies

Contact us at [email protected] or call us at 866-349-5964, if you have any questions or need any additional information on how you can upgrade to the new network with ease.

When it’s services on the go, out in the field, or at a customer’s site, the new 4″ FP541 mobile printer will help improve operations and productivity in your workforce. The FP541 is an updated advanced version of the previously popular RT43 series from Printek. It is fast, compact, and lightweight which is ideal for workers out in the field printing tickets, labels, and tags. The Field Pro 541 printer also have a wide variety of accessories and mounting options such as shoulder strap, spare batteries, in-vehicle, cart, and fixed mounts available to help with mobility and installation in vehicles.

Check out all the powerful features below and see how the FP-541 stands out from its competitions.

If you have any questions or interested in a quote, feel free to contact our dedicated account managers.

Automated patient identification is essential to protecting the well-being of patients and the integrity of the healthcare system. Wristbands plays a big part of this process. The wristbands must be durable enough to withstand the rigors of the busy hospital environment and exposure to daily usage of hand sanitizers.

When it comes to quality, Zebra put their wristbands to the test. The wristbands went under a severe stress testing to a wide range of exposures such as isopropyl, rubbing alcohol, water, and hand sanitizers.  It is tested that Zebra’s Z-band direct and the Z-Band UltraSoft wristbands are more durable against Purell Waterless Hand Sanitizer than the leading competitor.

Z-Band Direct Wristbands are latex-free and MR-safe. These direct thermal polypropylene wristbands are scannable up to 14 days even with the hospital’s busy environment and constant use of hand sanitizers.

Z-Band UltraSoft Wristbands are thermal synthetic bands that are MR-safe and latex-free.

ARDL conclusively found that both Z-Band Direct and UltraSoft were more durable than the leading competitors bands. The scanners were able to read the wristbands for a longer period of time before it becomes unscannable.

Quality Matters especially in the fast-pace environment, like the hospital. Zebra is committed to providing quality wristbands that meet the high standards for image durability, sustainability, and comfort. The Z-Bands are available in adult, pediatric, and infant sizes.

If you are interested in learning more about the wristbands or a compatible printer, feel free to contact one of our dedicated account managers for a quote or more info.

The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate took effect on December 18, 2017. Since then drivers were given some leeway. If they were caught without the proper ELD equipment, documents, or training they were written up, but neither they nor the companies they drive for were penalized for it. That leeway officially ended on April 1^st.

Under the Compliance, Safety, and Accountability program (CSA) any driver now caught without the proper ELD equipment will have CSA points levied against them and their companies. Furthermore, according to Kerri Wirachowsky, Director of the roadside inspection program at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, trucks will be put into the penalty box, in most cases for up to 10 hours.

With the ELD Mandate drivers must have and be able to do the following.

1. Tell enforcement that there is an electronic user manual with instructions for using the device, on the device, in the form of help screens.
2. Be able to produce recent data and transfer it to an inspector electronically.
3. Instructions for reporting malfunctions and record-keeping procedures during malfunctions.
4. Have at least an eight day supply of blank forms for recording a driver’s hours of service in the event the mobile device fails.

April 1^st has come and gone, hence if drivers are not ELD compliant by now its important to do so. Mainly because just having an ELD does not mean the driver is in compliance. The driver must also be able to operate the ELD. Not being able to do so will be treated as if the driver didn’t have the proper equipment on board.

To comply with the ELD Mandate you’ll need a device, below are some of the newest mobile device options for ELD:

• Zebra TC56 rugged smartphone
• Honeywell CT50 rugged smartphone
• Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 rugged tablet
• Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet

To learn more about the ELD Mandate or to get a free consultation on an ELD hardware and software solution, reach out to one of our Barcodes, Inc. representatives.

It’s that time of the month again for a consumables refresh, to make sure that you do not run out of consumables by the end of the month. If you need new labels, try to looking into our Honeywell genuine print media where you can be assured you’ll get high quality, durable media, with more efficiency, reduced cost, and Honeywell’s library of custom pre-print solutions.

Honeywell can supply a wide variety of label media to support different application needs and custom solutions are tailored to what you need in-house. If you have special requirements, or lack of access to on-demand printing capabilities in-house, then our team can help. For example:

• Direct or Thermal Transfer Labels
• Retro-reflective rack labels (upon request)
• Labels for harsh or outdoor environments
• Serialized product and asset id labels and tags
• and many other options

Additionally, all Honeywell barcode printer and label users are in for a treat! With the new Honeywell printhead replacement program you can get a replacement printhead for FREE due to normal wear and tear. This program is valid as long as you exclusively use Honeywell media products.

Long Term Benefits:

• More printer uptime with a lower total cost of ownership
• Increased ROI based on extended printer life

To learn more about Honeywell media supplies, contact our dedicated account managers.

Whether you are looking into automating your system or looking of ways to improve your daily operation, come join us at MODEX 2018.

We are excited to tell you that we will be in one of the largest supply chain expo in North and South America. Come visit our booth #C1338 to see how you can cut operation costs, maximize efficiencies, and reduce risk in your supply chain. We will also have demos of mobile computer, printers, and scanners for you to check out and our sales engineers who will be able to share their expertise on what kind of equipment is right for you.

Learn how to get a free assessment when you stop by our booth.

MODEX 2018
April 9-12, 10AM-5PM
Georgia World Congress Center
#C1338

Register below for a complimentary pass to MODEX 2018, see you there!

Following the FX 9500, Zebra Technologies has announced the New FX9600 Fixed RFID Reader. The new FX9600 has a rugged design for any industrial space. High read performance easily tracks the highest volume of densely tagged case, pallets, and items that goes in and out of your warehouse and docks daily.

What makes FX9600 the Best Fixed Reader?

Top of the Line Performance
High RF sensitivity for faster pick, pack, and ship. The more efficient the more profitable your operation can be.

Deployment Simplicity
FX9600 can parse data directly on the reader, so less data transmitted to backend servers, increasing bandwidth, and improving network performance.

Connect to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices
Can support Bluetooth dongle, so no need for excessive hard-wired connections to the access point.

More Read Points Per Reader
Four- port and Eight Port Model, enabling you to cover more dock doors and portals with fewer readers- lowering your initial investment, as well as deployment time and costs.

Rugged Design for Tough Environments
IP53 rating to ensure uptime even in damp, dusty work areas, extreme heat or subzero temperatures.

Get the most out of your investment, contact our dedicated account managers for more information.

Whether you are looking into automating your system or looking of ways to improve your daily operation, come join us at MODEX 2018.

We are excited to tell you that we will be in one of the largest supply chain expo in North and South America. Come visit our booth #C1338 to see how you can cut operation costs, maximize efficiencies, and reduce risk in your supply chain. We will also have demos of mobile computer, printers, and scanners for you to check out and our sales engineers who will be able to share their expertise on what kind of equipment is right for you.

Learn how to get a free assessment when you stop by our booth.

MODEX 2018
April 9-12, 10AM-5PM
Georgia World Congress Center
#C1338

Register below for a complimentary pass to MODEX 2018, see you there!

Many merchants use Amazon as a platform to reach out to their customers. Each unit that you send to Amazon for fulfillment needs a scannable barcode to enable storage at their facility.

So what do you need to do to label your inventory for Amazon?

Amazon advised that you should,

• Use a direct thermal printer with a print resolution of 300DPI or greater. (Each label must be readable and scannable for 24 months)
  Amazon fulfillment centers currently use the Zebra GX430t models with direct thermal setting. (More affordable and comparable option, Airtrack DP-1)
  • Labels to include
    1. Barcode
    Format: Code 128A
    Height: Greater than 0.25″ or 15% of barcode length
    Narrow Barcode element: For 300 dpi printers-3.33mils For 200 dpi printers-20mils
    Wide to Narrow Ratio: 3:1
    Quiet Zone (sides): Greater than 0.25″
    Quiet Zone (top and bottom): Greater than 0.125″
    2. FNSKU: Used by Amazon fulfillment centers to identify each unique product. To get the FNSKU, set the product as Fulfilled by Amazon, and then launch it to Amazon. Once the item is in your catalog in SellerCentral, Amazon will assign an FNSKU to the product.
    3. Title and Description
    4. Condition of the Unit
    5. Any Optional information to specify the product
    

Label Specifications require it to be printed on a white label and recommended to print on a dimension between 1×2″ and 2×3″ with a removable adhesive if directly on product. If you do not wish to label your own inventory, you can sign up for the FBA Label Service and have Amazon apply barcodes to your eligible items. (Per-item fee applies)

What about Shipment Labels?

Each box or pallet that you send to Amazon must be properly identified with a shipment label.

• Labels supports the measures of 4×6″.
• Don’t place labels on the seems of the box. (Might get cut by a box cutter which results into an unreadable barcode)
• FBA shipment label should be placed next to the carrier label. Both needs to be uncovered for easy scanning.
• Each box you include in the shipment must have its own label from the shipping Queue.
• Each pallet needs four labels, one on top and the center of each visible sides.

For more in depth packaging and shipping instructions, please review this reference guide from Amazon.

Feel free to click on a few of our products that can help you create the labels you need for your business. If you have any needs or uncertainty, contact our dedicated account manager and they can help you pick the right equipment you need.

GX430t                                      DP-1                                   3×1″                                  4×6″